Childhood bereavement is one of the New York Life Foundation’s core focus areas of its ‘Nurturing the Children’ initiative. The death of a loved one is one of the most stressful events a child can face. One in seven children experiences the loss of a parent, sibling or close relative by the age of 10. And studies show that without a healthy support system, bereaved children can develop psychiatric disorders, emotional difficulties, and depressive, anxious, and disruptive behavior.
The Foundation supports two national nonprofit organizations that provide grieving children with weekend-long camps that help them heal – Comfort Zone Camp and The Moyer Foundation’s Camp Erin – and other local organizations working on this issue as well.
The New York Life Foundation will provide resources and support you can share with the kids you serve. Today at a NY Life Breakfast I attended, Peter Schrock, national program director of Comfort Zone Camp, offered his insights on the topic. You can receive a copy of the booklet underwritten by the New York Life Foundation, After a Loved One Dies – How Children Grieve, by visiting their web site at http://www.nylgriefguide.com/exchange_default.asp